Boozer family joing Duke star in North Carolina

Posted: Thursday, June 22, 2000

JUNEAU (AP) -- The family of Duke basketball star Carlos Boozer is moving from Juneau to North Carolina to help protect him from pressure to leave college for the NBA.

Renee Boozer, the power forward's mother, said the pressure hasn't been obvious, because NBA teams aren't allowed to talk to players who haven't exhausted their NCAA eligibility or declared themselves eligible for the draft. But she said there has been indirect pressure from media and fans.

''We know he would feel more at ease if we were down there,'' Renee Boozer told the Juneau Empire for a story in Thursday's edition. ''If something happens, we can jump in a car or get on a plane and we can be there a lot quicker, and it won't cost so much.''

Renee and Carlos Sr. both want Carlos Jr., who will be a sophomore this year, to complete his college education before moving on to the NBA.

Carlos Jr., in an interview in late-May, said Chris Carrawell's last game at Duke was one of his top memories of his freshman year as a Blue Devil. Carrawell spent four years at Duke, and Carlos Jr. said losing the Sweet 16 game to Florida was an emotional time for the entire team because they wanted Carrawell to go out with a national championship.

Carlos Jr. said he hopes to send this year's seniors out with a championship.

Renee said leaving Juneau will be difficult for the Boozer family, especially for the three younger children.